Date: September 17, 2017
From: Bob Jacobsen
Subject: Test Release 4.9.4 of JMRI/DecoderPro is available for download.
This is a test release. Please post a note if you encounter any new or old bugs! And please back up your JMRI files before installing this, in case you want to go back to an earlier version.
This is the next in a series of test releases. We expect this series to end in the next JMRI production release around the end of 2017. (See the tentative release schedule)
Some of the changes involved are quite extensive. They may require a certain amount of experience before they are working well. Therefore, this test release should be considered experimental.
JMRI is now only available under the GNU General Public License. For more information, please see our copyright and licensing page.
In general, previous versions used serial device names like "/dev/cu.usbserial-ABC123FG". This version will generally omit the prefix, and use serial device names like "cu.usbserial-ABC123FG". (If given the choice if a name starting with "tty" and one starting with "cu", pick the "cu" one). See the before and after images to the right.
import gnu.io statements will have to be replaced by
import purejavacomm statements.
gnu.io, e.g. a reference to a class like
gnu.io.SerialPort, statements will have to be replaced by
a reference to the corresponding
purejavacomm class.
Since JMRI 4.9.3 For Windows users only: JMRI 4.9.3 (and all later) has a new version of the "LaunchJMRI.exe" program. It's used to set options as JMRI is starting up, and is a completely normal part of JMRI. Because it's new and different, however, your anti-virus program may reject it. You might get a message about "file removed" or "file quarantined" or similar and then JMRI might not start. The solution is to make sure that your anti-virus program doesn't interfere with JMRI's installation and running. There are so many of those, unfortunately, that we can't really provide useful instructions beyond that.
Since JMRI 4.7.6 If you're having trouble getting your DCC programmer to work, try checking that the "Defaults" under "Preferences" are set to your hardware system. The reason: This version of JMRI (and all later) provides more options for "default systems": If you have multiple sets of hardware attached, which should be used for throttles, for programming, etc. JMRI tries to guess the right settings for these when you upgrade to this version, but apparently it sometimes gets that wrong (we haven't been able to track that down yet). Setting them manually fixes any wrong guesses.
Since JMRI 4.7.5 JMRI 4.7.5 (and all later) writes a slightly streamlined version of panel file contents. Older files should still be readable by this version of JMRI, but files written by this version may not be readable by versions before JMRI 4.2 depending on their contents.
Since JMRI 4.7.5 The LocoNetOverTCP server has changes that may break scripts that reference it. Scripts refering to the class jmri.jmrix.loconet.loconetovertcp.Server need to refer instead to jmri.jmrix.loconet.loconetovertcp.LnTcpServer.
Since JMRI 4.7.3 This release will not start cleanly if installed over earlier versions of JMRI (the Windows installer ensures this is not an issue). Remove the JAR files jackson-annotations-2.0.6.jar, jackson-core-2.0.6.jar, and jackson-databind-2.0.6.jar from the lib directory within the previous installation directory to resolve this.
Since JMRI 4.7.1
JMRI no longer supports the portable paths resource: or file: that
were deprecated in JMRI 2.13. When loading a panel, an error message will be displayed
if the panel contains a path that starts with resource: and the panel will
not load until changed using an external editor. Paths starting with file:
cannot be automatically flagged because JMRI allows file: URLs.
Since JMRI 4.7.1
The LocoNet Server (the LocoNetRMI service; not the LocoNetOverTcp service)
in this version of JMRI doesn't properly interoperate with
JMRI 4.7.1 through JMRI 4.7.4.
It does work fine with JMRI version 4.6 or before.
If you encounter a problem with version compatibility, you'll see an error
message that includes "local class incompatible".
The workaround is to update both client and server JMRI machines to the same
JMRI version.
Since JMRI 4.7.1 JMRI applications will not load a panel file that fails XML validation; an error will be shown that should explains the error, allowing it to be fixed using an editor. (The explanations remain a work in progress.) If you have a problem loading a panel file, please
Since JMRI 4.5.6 As part of fixing the TMCC throttle issue, the handling of TMCC preferences was changed. If you have a TMCC connection configured, please go to the "Defaults" pane in the Preferences window and make sure that the TMCC connection is selected for the appropriate device types.
Since JMRI 4.5.2 This and future releases of JMRI may not function on OS X if the Java SE 6 provided by Apple is installed. OS X operating system updates routinely remove this version of Java SE 6. Please raise any issues concerning this on the user's group. To remove Java SE 6 from OS X, follow these steps (these steps assume JMRI is installed in the folder /Applications/JMRI, if not, adjust the following paths as needed):
El Capitan only: Reboot into Recovery Mode by restarting your Mac and pressing Cmd-R until the Apple logo appears. Once in Recovery Mode, select Terminal from the Utilities menu.
/Applications/JMRI/PanelPro.app/Contents/Resources/uninstall-java6.sh It can take
up to a half hour to complete. Wait for the message Removed Apple Java SE6.
El Capitan only: Run the command bash /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Applications/JMRI/PanelPro.app/Contents/Resources/uninstall-java6.sh /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD
It can take up to a half hour to complete. Wait for the message Removed Apple Java SE6.
Since JMRI 4.5.2 Support for directly executing AppleScript within JMRI has been removed due to changes in macOS and Java outside our control. If you require the ability to use AppleScript, you may be able to add this capability on your own by visiting JMRI AppleScript Support, but please be aware that this may not work on upcoming releases of macOS or Java.
Since JMRI 4.5.1 Internal turnouts and sensors need to have complete, individual system names. The names "IT" and "IS" (without any suffix) are no longer permitted: "IT12" is fine, but just "IT" is not. Most panel files that contain these should automatically migrate them to new names when saved, but in some cases you might need to manually update them.
Please note that the download links in this and future JMRI releases link to Github servers. If that doesn't work for you, the files up to 4.11.x are also still available from the SourceForge.net servers. Please let us know of any problems.